National Clothesline

The International Fabricare Institute may have a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Laurel, MD, but the association has kept its old work ethic by offering several educational programs on the premises throughout 2005.

The institute will continue to offer its one-week introductory to drycleaning course designed for individuals new to the industry or those with less than one year of experience.

The course covers everything from fibers and fabrics to assembly and invoicing. Students will learn about the principles of the drycleaning process, including aspects such as the drycleaning machine, work flow, elementary stain removal and finishing procedures for pants, coats and skirts.

The course costs $450 per member and $695 per non-member. Starting dates include: May 3, July 12, Aug. 9 and Oct. 18. A second session starting July 12 will also be taught in Korean.

For cleaners who have completed the introductory course, of those with more than one year of production experience, IFI offers a two-week advanced course.

The class emphasizes specialty fabrics and fiber identification; advanced stain removal procedures and bleaches; finishing blouses, dresses, ties, all-weather coats, pleats, pile fabrics, silks, and rayon; wetcleaning; customer service; and business management, among other topics.

Tuition is $900 per member and $1,390 per non-member.

Class dates include: Feb. 2-13; May 10-21; July 19-30 (in both English and Korean); Aug. 16-27; and Oct. 5 - Nov. 25.

Also on IFI’s schedule is a two-day class on caring for wedding gowns from May 12-13 and a three-day course on stain removal set to take place twice in 2005: March 16-18 and Sept. 21-23.

For more information, or to register, call (301) 622-1900.

In an effort to give members more bang for their membership buck, the MidAtlantic Association of Cleaners has started a new program offering exclusive private consultations.

According to MAC President Charles R. Smith, the benefit is free to all members.

“In place of a thank you gift for their continuing professional affiliation with IFI/MidAtlantic, we’re providing the opportunity for a top-to-bottom private consultation regarding the overall health of their business and how immediate improvements may be achieved,” he said. “This is something substantial that is aimed at increasing profit and differentiating IFI/MidAtlantic professionals from the rest of the crowd.”

The consultation program begins with MAC members completing a very thorough, but confidential, business improvement survey so that the association can target trouble areas that are in immediate need of improvement.

Executive Vice President David Norford noted that the surveys have already been of particular interest to cleaners.

“So far, comments are on the order of: ‘This is really an eye-opening experience’,” he explained.

The exclusive program will be in effect throughout this year for both new and veteran IFI/MidAtlantic professionals who renew their membership for a full year.

For more information, call (800) 235-8360.

The Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association has chosen a theme to help guide its members throughout 2005: “Be a Pro.”

The association wants its members to improve their skills in order to be better than the rest.

The first step in helping members accomplish that aim will be on Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Harrisburg Hilton when PDCA hosts an equipment maintenance seminar.

The program will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. with lunch included.

Throughout the year, PDCA will offer several other seminars on a variety of topics, including preventive maintenance, which will focus on how to keep your plant operating efficiently as you prevent problems and get the most out of your equipment.

Also on the horizon will be a seminar entitled “Be an Expert in Your Plant” which teaches stain removal and pressing, as well as on “Wetcleaning, Not Washing,” on March 19 in Pittsburgh, which will examine how to wetclean effectively and profitably.

Also, PDCA has planned a program on “How to Make Money From Garments You’re Turning Away” which will cover cleaning items that appear to be much more difficult than they really are.

For more information on any of PDCA’s programs, call (215) 830-8495.